News Digest
Making Room for Billboards: “A giant tree in Miami waterfront park was chopped down by the city — without city approval”
Photo: Jose A. Iglesias, elnuevoherald.com "A 35-foot tall ficus tree thought to be among the oldest in Maurice A. Ferré Park was chopped down by the city of Miami without any advance notice or a removal permit. What will take the beloved tree’s place? The city claims...
“Florida House unanimously approves bill to designate A1A as ‘Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway”
Photo: Orlando Weekly, Jimmy Buffett Facebook "The Florida House on Thursday unanimously approved a proposal to designate Florida A1A, from the Florida Keys to Nassau County, as 'Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway'... 'Over the course of the last 50-plus years, he went...
Stopping Rapid Tree Loss with Water Resources Improvements: “Tampa to plant 30,000 trees by 2023 to restore city’s canopy”
Photo: Fox 13 Tampa Photo: Fox 13 Tampa "The city of Tampa will be adding hundreds of trees in two communities as part of the mayor’s mission to plant 30,000 new trees by 2030. 'We were known, previously, as having one of the best tree canopies in the world,' Mayor...
“Cells of people living in greener areas age more slowly, research finds”
Photo: James Houser New Orleans/Alamy "Many studies have shown that people living in greener neighborhoods have several health benefits, including lower levels of stress and cardiovascular disease. But new research indicates that exposure to parks, trees and other...
Giant Billboard In Miami
Photo: Matias J. Ocner, Miami Herald - A view of a 10-story LED billboard being constructed next to the Pérez Art Museum Miami on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in downtown Miami, Fla. "...Outrage over a supersized digital billboard rising on Miami’s waterfront may spark a...
Century long cycle of hurricanes help move Florida’s Mangroves north: “Part of the puzzle explained by centuries of history”
Photo: WJXT "Researchers have observed an increase in mangrove trees in southern Amelia Island, Florida, in recent years. This is well north of the plant’s typical cold-sensitive habitat. Historically, mangroves have been limited to southern Florida. However, they are...
“US climate change reforestation plans face key problem: lack of tree seedlings”
Photo: ChamilleWhite/Getty Images/iStockphoto/The Guardian "US tree nurseries do not grow enough trees and lack the plant species diversity to meet ambitious plans, research says Only 56 of 605 plant nurseries - 10% – grow and sell seedlings in the volumes...
“Tiny Forests With Big Benefits”
Photo: Cassandra Klos for The New York Times "The tiny forest lives atop an old landfill in the city of Cambridge, Mass. Though it is still a baby, it’s already acting quite a bit older than its actual age, which is just shy of 2. Its aspens are growing at twice the...
A Multimedia Presentation “LED lights are meant to save energy. They’re creating glaring problems”
Photo: National Park Service composite of 47 images About this multimedia story: "The National Park Service captured the images showing the night sky and light pollution in Chelan County. To create a full picture of the night sky, NPS stitched together 47 different...
“Tampa’s tree canopy at 26-year low, report finds”
Photo: 2016 Tampa City of Tampa Tree Canopy and Urban Forest Analysis "Carley Morgan and her husband picked their South Tampa home, in part, because of the trees on the property. 'They make a difference on our energy cost and it makes the landscaping look so much...
Vote is tomorrow! What happens in Miami doesn’t STAY in Miami
Graphic: DNA "The Mayor of Miami thinks it's OK to disregard downtowners' opinion... Yesterday, we [Downtown Neighbors Alliance in Miami] received word from the Mayor's office that he has no intention of pulling the ordinance he's sponsoring to fill downtown with...
Eckerd College Designates 9 New Wildlife Habitats
Photo: Gabber "Soon, signs like these — provided by the National Wildlife Federation to gardens that provide food, water, shelter, and breeding grounds to local wildlife — will be installed at nine new wildlife habitats on the campus of Eckerd College. The...
“This Florida city gets the state’s first ‘dark sky’ certification”
Photo: Steven Miller Photography in Tampa Bay Times "Groveland’s work over the last three years to replace light fixtures will allow the night sky to shine clearer and brighter than it has in decades. About 30 miles west of Orlando sits Groveland, a rural town of...
State awards $1.8 million to Rainbow River Restoration Project
Photo: Sean Arnold, Riverland News "A pilot project to remove muck and invasive plants in the lower Rainbow River was awarded a $1.8 million grant in the latest Florida budget signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 15. The Rainbow River Restoration Project was launched...
“Local resident’s controversy on floating structure in St. Johns County waters”
Photo: CBS 47 Action News Jax "...St. John’s County Commissioners discussed an ordinance that would prohibit floating structures. Jeffrey Thomas is the owner of Hurricane Watersports on the Matanzas inlet. Some of the water rentals he provides to visitors are paddle...
“City of Clearwater touts new Coachman Park as destination spot”
Video: Bay News 9 Tampa Clearwater's new Coachman Park opened to the public June 28. "'I’ve never seen anything like it,' said Mayor Brian Aungst, Sr. 'It’s phenomenal, and I really do think people are going to gravitate here.' 'It’s a game changer. It’s a catalytic...
“Bald cypress planting caps Key Biscayne’s recognition as Tree City USA”
Photo: Juan Castro Olivera "Key Biscayne residents will have it made in the shade soon, with 59 trees to be planted from a Miami-Dade County Neat Streets grant, and a 60th tree which was recently planted at Lake Park with the help of young students from the K-8...
“The English Property forest gets closer to Florida Forever’s 2024 buy list”
Photo: Patricia Moynihan / WFSU Public Media "Paul Russell Road is one of several that bisects the English property forest A plan to save part of the English Forest in Tallahassee from development has moved a step closer. The Acquisition and Restoration Council of...
“Happy Pollinator Week from Deering Estate”
Photo: Butterfly Orchid, David Lotker "Deering Estate is proud to be part of Miami-Dade County’s efforts to support our native pollinators. Pollinators are essential to our lives, 75% of the world’s flowering plants and 35% of the world’s crops rely on pollinators....
Anonymous Complaints Ban – More Fallout “A Tampa mystery: Who’s making code complaints in this man’s name?”
Photo: Douglas R. Clifford "The first phone call last November confused real estate agent Jason Papi. Why, the angry stranger wanted to know, did Papi submit a code complaint against his home? The second call, weeks later, was jarring. Papi’s team leader with Keller...